The Osun Police Command has arrested five suspected armed robbers, recovered firearms and 13 rounds of live ammunition.
This is contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on Thursday in Osogbo.
Ojelabi said the breakthrough followed a report by a resident of Ada, Osun, who had complained that his Lexus Jeep was stolen overnight.
He said that the command’s Anti-Robbery Team immediately commenced a search for the suspects using the tracking device installed in the stolen vehicle.
Ojelabi disclosed that two suspects – Johnson Friday, 30; and Augustine Godwin, 28, were arrested at a filling station in Ibadan while refuelling the stolen vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were on their way to deliver the stolen vehicle to a receiver at Idiroko in Ogun.
“Their cautionary statements also provided useful information that led to the arrest of two more members of the gang – Augustine Godday, 18; and Semiu Ogunlowo, 20, at Esa-Oke, Osun,” he said.
Ojelabi added that further investigation led the police operatives to Ila-Orangun, where an AK-47 rifle with 13 rounds of live ammunition and a single-barrel firearm used in the operation were recovered.
He noted that the firearms were concealed in a sack and kept behind Godwin’s room.
The police investigation also led to the arrest of Olamide Afeez, 29, who acted as an informant to the robbery gang and was a close friend of the complainant.
Ojelabi noted that investigation was ongoing, particularly to apprehend the suspected receiver at Idiroko, whom the arrested suspects allegedly mentioned during interrogation.
He urged residents to be vigilant and provide the police with timely and useful information that would assist in preventing and combating crime.
